Improvement in hearses



` inafter explaiied.

ama i aw w EDW N A LE oF Nonwrcn, CONNETICUT.

Letters Patent No: 95,066, datat September 21', 1869.

IMPROVEMENT 'N memelus `'the Shedule :elen-ed ta in thene Letters Patent and making part of the To all whom it may concm `Be it known that I, EDWINALLEN, oi' N o-wich, in the connty of New London, and State of Oonnecticut, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Hearses, and other vehicles; a'ndI do hereby declare that the following is a fill, clear, and exact descrip- "tion of the same, reference being had to the acconpanying drawings, which form part 'of this speeifica tion.

This invention, though more especially intended for hearses, is also' applicable to other vehicles.

It .consists in providing 'the bottom of` a hearse or other vehicle with rollers, which are susceptible of being raised or lo'wered at will, and which, when raised, present a portion 'of their penipheries above the floor or bottom of the vehicle, for facilitating the running in o" out or the cofin or; other article, and when lowered sink' below the floor, for allowing thecofiin or other article to rest firmly on the floor, while the vlicle is in niotion.

-Referrng to the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 represents a Iongitudinal section of my inventiem", showing 'the rollers lowered;

Figure 2 represents a similar view of the same, showing the rollers raised; and

Figure 3 represents a plan View of the floorof the vehicle removed.

Similar letters of -rei'euce indicate corresponding pats in the several figures. i a i A is the floor or bottom of a. hearse, or 'other vehicle, -in which are forn'ed. Slots a, for'the purpose herethe same, with To the underside of this floorA is secured a box 6r frame, B, in each side of which are made two or more Slots I bas shown by' dotted lines in figs. 1 and, 2,

' Within these Slots b'b are 'retained the ext-emities ot horizontalaxlesC C. The said axles are arranged in pairs, one pair in each pair of Slots b as shown in figs. ,land 2, 'and are made to work loosely therein, as' shown in fig, 3. n i 4 They are provided with fixed rollers c between which of each'axle is-arangedan interposed sliding board, D, carrying upon its 'upper surface wedges d. These wedges dare s o arranged in relation to'the fixed rollers of the npper a'xls, that by the outward sliding of the said interposed board they'are brought under said rollers, thereby elevating the said .upper axles, as shown in fig. 2.

F are loose rollers, fitted upon the npper axles G, so as to turn freely thereon, and working iu the aforesaid Slots a 'of the floor A, as shown in' figs. `1 and 2, so that when the 'sliding board D is pushed in their position, will he below the surface of the floor A, as shown in fig.1,butwhen said board-is drawn outwardly, their upper edges will project above the floor A, as shown in fig. 2. 4 ff are steps, for

preventing the board from slid- 'ing too far either way.

When a coflin,-if the invention be applied to a hear-s'e, or any heavy article, il' it be applied to -other veli ele, is to be pushed into the hearse, or said other -vehi ele, the sliding board D isdrawn outwardly, as shown in fig. 2, bringing the upper edges of the rollers F above the surface of the floor, so as to receive the said coifin or article,and lcilitate *the inward slicling of the When it has been pushedtoits proper position within the vehicle, the board D is pushed in. as shown in figs. 1 and 3,soasjto allow the rollers F to sink below the' surface of the' floor A, thns leaving the cof-. fin or other article' to rest firmly upon the floor.

What ishere claimed, and desired to be secured by v Letters Patent, is

l. The rollers F, in combination with the floor of a hearse or other vehicle, to operate in the manner substantially as and'for the purpose -herein described.

2. The arrangement of the rollers F, axles O O, 'and wedge-'formed slide d, snbstautially as and forlthe por pese herein set 'ortl.

' i EDWIN ALLEN;

i I witnesses: 

